Dutch Flat Mates: Hitlines
(Published on 16. April 2025, 11:00 by marty_sears)
Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply.
The grid is covered in fog. Entering correct digits may clear fog somewhere in the grid. No guessing is necessary.
Every 5 in the grid must have a 1 directly above it or a 9 directly below it. It might have both, but it doesn't need both.
Beige lines are 'hitlines'. In this puzzle, hitlines only move orthogonally. Digits don't repeat on a hitline. The small clue on the square at the start of a hitline indicates the total of any digits along the line that equal their position number, starting at the square (which is position 1.)
Eg: If a 4-cell hitline reads 1794, then its clue would be 5 (the sum of 1 and 4) because 1 is in position 1, 4 is in position 4, and these are the only two digits which match their position number.
Please leave a comment if you enjoy :)
Click here for other puzzles in the Dutch Flat Mates seriesTHE HIT LIST:
Puzzle 1: Hitlines
Puzzle 2: Hit Count
Puzzle 3: Dutch Flat Mates: Hitlines
Puzzle 4: Pick-up Sticks: Beige
Puzzle 5: Rank Up: Hitlines
Puzzle 6: Six Hit Wonder
Puzzle 7: HIT + MIX
Puzzle 8: Build Your Own Hitlines
Solution code: Row 9 from left to right
Comments
yesterday, 23:02 by LisaFr
So I missed something on the very last hitline, and then resorted to uniqueness logic (which I had never applied before, only heard about, and did not feel good or sure about using).
After looking over the comments and going back to the point in the puzzle where I was stuck, the way to solve finally came to me. I love these moments because I realize the puzzle is teaching me new solving skills.
I've been playing through the hitline series and have had a very nice learning curve, so big thanks for not only setting these great puzzles with a cool new constraint, but also arranging them to give intermediate puzzlers like myself a chance to learn!
Marty: ah thanks for the comment, I'm glad you like the series and the learning curve of it, and feel like your solving skills are progressing! Yes a lot of people talk about uniqueness and sometimes setters might make a puzzle that is specially about using uniqueness deductions, but I like to think they would make it clear that that's intended, because most of the time puzzles will not be designed with the use of uniqueness intended. My puzzle rules never say that there is a unique solution, so best to assume there's not and just try and find a solution that meets all the rules ;)
on 18. December 2025, 22:34 by NotSoMagnifique
Glad to see both the hitline and flatmate rules apply in equal measure!
on 5. July 2025, 21:34 by PancakePie
What a blast!
on 12. May 2025, 12:00 by QuiltyAsCharged
Wonderful puzzle!
on 12. May 2025, 01:11 by Ratfinkz
I LOVE this constraint so much!
on 20. April 2025, 17:05 by Klausku
Nice. That last line twisted my brain. Thanks.
on 20. April 2025, 11:06 by Flinty
I'm very late to leaving my comment as I've been on hollibobs. Thank you again for the wonderful contribution to series :) Now it's time to catch the Olli vod. :)
on 18. April 2025, 23:03 by jakestilesowen
Dynamic fog has the potential downside of having a boring or telegraphed solve path, but that was not the case here. Very enjoyable steps with interesting logic.
on 16. April 2025, 23:56 by Asparagus
Magnificent.
I loved the way there was always just enough information to keep going!
on 16. April 2025, 17:10 by Franjo
Another great puzzle in a great series. Exactly what I had expected, of course. Thank you very much for this lovely addition.
on 16. April 2025, 17:07 by egubachu
Very nice! I loved how the hitlines disambiguate every time, but especially the last one.
on 16. April 2025, 14:06 by mscha
Nice one!
I got the first line pretty quickly, but after that it got a bit trickier. But there was always a logical way to continue, I just had to find it.
on 16. April 2025, 13:25 by da-hans
This is a very nice addition to the series. Works well with fog. I think it would be too easy with all the lines visible. With fog I would rate it between 2 and 3 *.
on 16. April 2025, 12:07 by sujoyku
Very nice puzzle. The break-in took me a while to understand properly. But then the puzzle had a nice flow all the way. Thank you for another fabulous DFM puzzle, Marty!
